Chapter 1318 Durant's flaws are going to be counter-killed? NO!
However, Durant's side will not be prestige for long. Because after the opponent used his personal ability to dismantle the BoxAnd1 defensive tactics, the Lakers suddenly changed defense in the next round and directly blocked Durant from a high position. Durant still wanted to rely on
He had the ability to dribble the ball over, but he only ran a few steps and was suddenly attacked by a three-man team from the Lakers as soon as he entered near the three-point line. Durant quickly released the ball, but was seen through by Rondo of the Lakers.
It was interrupted and the Lakers counterattacked.
Tang Qian attacked inside, causing Adams' fourth foul, and he made 2 of 2 free throws from the free throw line.
Durant held the ball, and the Lakers once again blocked the attack this time. The Lakers' defensive focus shifted from Westbrook to Durant. Durant stepped up and hit the ball. This ball is really difficult.
It's very big, but it's a pity that Durant is tall and has long arms, and his free-hand attack is simply an unreasonable attack. In terms of shooting space, Durant doesn't need anything.
He just had to force it out.
This is a natural advantage.
It doesn't matter, the Lakers are just fighting with Durant to see who collapses first. Tang Qian faced the basket and killed the basket, Westbrook suddenly passed to Durant, and Durant made a "big loop"
, won a free throw opportunity. They made 2 of 2 free throws from the free throw line. The score difference was very tight, but the Lakers did not panic. They were waiting for the Thunder to have problems and make mistakes first.
This is also the longest thing many teams do when they are in a stalemate with the Thunder.
The Thunder can't keep their composure. Many times, even in a good situation, he can be wiped out.
Sure enough, the same was true in this game. With the increase in mistakes, the Lakers began to slowly gain the upper hand, but they were still close to defeating their opponents. The Thunder team is probably used to their opponents using mistakes to counterattack.
So he wasn't panicked and was quite calm. Durant forced his life back and missed several extremely difficult long-range shots.
This is the kind of ball that you can't defend. It's either that you didn't defend it well or it was scored by your opponent.
After Durant was silent for 2 games, this game finally broke out. He held the Lakers back by himself, making it impossible to widen the score difference and kept interlocking. This is the power of the superstar ball.
. It is indeed simple and crude. In other words, superstar ball is originally a tactic. Larry Brown replaced Covington, replaced Ariza, and asked Covington to play the 3rd position.
The small forward, the opponent, is naturally Durant.
Larry Brown has only one request for Covington, which is to wear out his opponents so that they can no longer be magical in the fourth quarter.
Because Durant's physical fitness has never been very good, and he has basically been out of defense in his career. Moreover, he has suffered a serious drop in the playoffs, but it is not a mental problem. More often, it is because he is not physically strong enough and is just tired.
There are too many examples like this. For example, in 2010, G1 faced the Lakers in the fourth quarter, making 2 of 7 shots, with a shooting percentage of 28.6%. G2, in the fourth quarter, made 2 of 6 shots, with a shooting percentage of 33.3%. In G5, Tianwangshan's shooting percentage was 35%.
. He made 3 of 12 shots in the second half of the G6 elimination game. The following year, he beat the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter of G3 and made 2 of 7 shots, a 28% shooting rate. He made 0 of 3 shots in the fourth quarter of G2. He made 0 of 4 shots in the fourth quarter of G6.
He made 2 of 6 shots in the fourth quarter against the Mavericks in G2 and 2 of 8 in the fourth quarter of G4. In Game 3 of the 2012 Finals, he also made 2 of 6 shots. In the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs, he made 0 of 2 shots in the fourth quarter. And this is already
He was in his best playoff form with the Thunder. In the remaining three years, his shooting percentage was about 45% in each year. As a highly efficient No. 3 position, he suddenly became the same as the so-called blacksmith Kobe Bryant, the No. 2 position.
And don’t forget that Durant’s isolation rate is much lower than that of Kobe. Not to mention the original time and space this season, he shot 2 of 10 in the fourth quarter of G2 against the Mavericks, with a shooting percentage of 20%. He shot 1 of 4 in the fourth quarter of G3.
The shooting percentage was 25%. In the fourth quarter of G4, the field goal percentage was 2 of 7. The shooting percentage was 28.6%. In the second half of G5, the field goal percentage was 4 of 11. Against the Spurs, they also had 1 of 4 in the fourth quarter. Not to mention a large number of fourth quarter collapses in the Western Conference Finals. G1
In the fourth quarter, they made 3 of 12 shots from the field, shooting 25%. G2 made 1 of 3 shots in the fourth quarter. G4 made 1 of 4 shots in the fourth quarter. G5 made 3 of 10 shots in the fourth quarter. G6 made 1 of 7 shots in the fourth quarter, with a shooting percentage of 14.3.
%. In the final tiebreaker, Durant's shooting percentage of 52.6% seemed perfect, but look at the fourth quarter, he made 4 of 9 shots and his shooting percentage was 44.4%. Wait, don't worry, it changed in the last five minutes.
It became 2 of 5 shots. Then in the last 120 seconds, it was only 1 of 3 shots. It gradually declined.
There are still several years of playoffs that have not been listed. Just look at Durant's fourth quarter of the playoffs, and you will know that his physical collapse problem is very serious. Basically, there are many playoffs every season.
When the shooting percentage was extremely low in the fourth quarter of the game. And at that time, wasn't it the time when a team needed him the most? So Larry Brown's tactical arrangement was very clear. Although he did not use a super infinite defense lineup, let's
Covington went to play the 3rd position. Give him a task, just frantically pester the opponent and consume the opponent.
Durant's physical fitness has always been a big problem.
Once his physical fitness comes down, it will be easy for the Lakers to win.
Because the Lakers' defense is very strong and there are always strong defensive players at the 3rd position, the consumption of Durant has never been small. Especially after finally consuming Ariza, the starter, and the other team replaced him with a substitute.
Only then did Durant suddenly realize, wow, it turned out that this substitute defender was a real defender.
So strong! His defense is much better than Ariza just now! Coupled with his height and wingspan, although Durant is still scoring, his efficiency is visibly declining. Looking at this situation, it is impossible to reach the goal
In the fourth quarter, he couldn't stand it anymore.
In the last 2 minutes of the third quarter, Durant began to hit the iron continuously, and his mistakes in handling the ball were also increasing. The Lakers strengthened their attacks on the inside and low post, because no matter what, Tang Qian still faced heavy defensive pressure.
He is younger than Durant. Whether Durant's defender is Ariza or Covington, they are all guys who are really famous for their defense. What about here? Although Adams has a tough and wild style of play, he is not as good as later this season.
He couldn't reach the point of defending a strong player. After all, he was only in the third grade and had not yet entered the "newcomer contract" period. And after Tang Qian increased the frequency of deliberately killing the inside, Adams finally couldn't escape the clutches. With 5 fouls in hand, he could only be temporarily replaced.
It went on. The Thunder had no big man to use, so they had to replace Kanter.
This guy is last in the league when it comes to defending the 5th position.
Billy Donovan also told Kanter in advance that he must defend with all his strength, regardless of the offense, and count as many as he can block. However, Kanter still let him down. Adams made a move, and Tang Qian was blocked in singles.
As they entered a no-man's land, their scoring efficiency began to skyrocket. Coupled with Durant's continuous strike, the Thunder were about to lose.
The score difference widened to 10 points again.
The Thunder took a timeout, but the effect was not good. After the third quarter, the Lakers led by 13 points. Durant was already tired, and Covington's defensive consumption of him was much stronger than Ariza's just now. Durant was already tired.
Lant's physical fitness began to sound the alarm. Now, the Thunder have reached the edge of the cliff. If Durant falls, they will definitely be doomed. The superstar can't hit the ball, and they don't dare to let the Lakers open up as a whole.
, failure has become inevitable.
Just when Billy Donovan was still struggling, an even more unfortunate news emerged. Westbrook sprained his ankle when he broke through, and he felt uncomfortable on the spot. The Thunder team doctor came to check and asked Westbrook to return.
Go to the locker room. This means that it is best not to play this game again. When they heard the news, the Thunder coaching staff and all the fans in the stadium burst into mourning.
Brian Davis, the on-site commentator at Chesapeake Energy Arena, even held his head and said: "We lost Russell. It's so unfortunate. We lost a key player at such a critical time. It's so unfortunate.
, I think the Lady Victory is about to leave Oklahoma." Billy Donovan also had a gloomy look on his face, not knowing what else to say.
Because of Westbrook's injury, the morale of the Thunder team has also been significantly affected. This game... is difficult to play.
Alas, I didn’t expect it to end like this, I’m... not willing to accept it.
Just when the Lakers players thought the situation was decided, there was a sudden commotion inside the Chesapeake Energy Arena. If you listened carefully, it seemed like bursts of cheers. It got louder and louder, and quickly spread throughout the entire place.
Arena. The Lakers players looked at the big screen above their heads and immediately understood the source of these people's cheers. It turned out that Russell Westbrook, who was supposed to enter the locker room, walked out forcefully, and then looked like he was going to continue playing.
.
For Americans, this scene is a "hero's return" drama, and it has happened many times in history. Including the "Reed's Return", the Rockets' "Yao Ming's Return", and the Celtics' "Return of the Hero".
"Pierce is back" when playing the Finals with the Lakers, etc. This is something that can boost a person's morale and spirit.
Westbrook is not just pretending, he is really gritting his teeth and wants to continue.
This scene made the on-site commentator also energetic, as if he had been given a shot of blood, and shouted loudly: "Russell is back! Russell is back! It looks like he wants to continue playing! This
This kind of spirit is worthy of admiration! It is worthy for us to regain the favor of the goddess of victory! Everyone shouts with me~ O~K~C~"
"O~K~C~"
"O~K~C~"
"O~K~C~"
A large number of Thunder fans began to shout, and the uniformed home T-shirts were amazing. The home team players felt that their blood was rising again, and the visiting team players felt that the entire stadium was suddenly filled with pressure.
Westbrook certainly lived up to expectations. He was fierce from the start. He actually hit two top-curb three-pointers in a row. The score difference was narrowed in a short time. After giving up, he rushed over and destroyed the Lakers' lob pass inside.
, and then quickly passed the ball to Andre Robertson, who had always had no sense of presence in front of him, quickly got down in time, caught the ball and shot.
Beep beep~
Scored~Added penalty~The Thunder team was about to catch up with 9 points in an instant!!! This made the entire Chesapeake Energy Arena cheer again!!!
Larry Brown called a timeout. He wanted to use a super unlimited defense lineup to eliminate the opponent in one go and prevent the opponent from gaining momentum again. But at this time, a yellow figure turned his face and said: "Sir, they are not ahead of us yet.
Right? According to our conditions in the locker room, you shouldn't use your trump card now." Larry Brown wanted to say something, but Tang Qian preempted him by saying, "Sir, trust me~ trust us~"
"A mere 'return drama' won't shake anything. This game will still be won."
"This series will still end at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, right here."